Pietersen replaces Dravid as Royal Challengers captain

, who was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $1.55 million in the second Indian Premier League auction in February, has replaced Rahul Dravid as skipper of the Vijay Mallya-IPL owned franchise.
The change was expected as the Royal Challengers had finished second from bottom in the IPL points table in the inaugural season. Pietersen will be available only for the initial part of IPL-2, whose dates are yet to be confirmed, because of his international commitments with England. After paying the record price for Pietersen, Mallya had this to say after the auction: "He's a superb addition to our team and I was very keen to purchase him. I got him for a price I was willing to pay. We needed to strengthen our batting. I would like him to play for all six weeks (of the League), if not this year then next year."

As Pietersen is going to be available only for the initial part of the IPL, Mallya announced that South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis would take over the captaincy of the side for the rest of the season. Dravid will continue as a playing member of the franchise.

Mallya also expressed hope that the second season of the IPL would go ahead as scheduled. He had also bought New Zealand cricketers Jesse Ryder and Kyle Mills at the second IPL auction in Goa.